Brake lever



Feb. 1o, 1942. H. s. Nuus BRAKE LVER F11-ed Jap. 2o, 1940 s sheds-sheet 1 n .EE

EVEN F -Hefbert rfcmdus Feb. 1o, 1942. H. s. {ANDU'S' 2,272,174-

BRAKE LEVER Filed Jan. 2o, 1940 sheets-sheet 2 YZ/E17 ZDF Heref Jar/cfu@ Feb. 10,#1942. H. s. JANDUs BRAKE LEVER Filed Jan. 20, 1940 3 Sheels--Sheat 3 12J/E17. Dr rerl Jara/[0 Patented Feb. 10, 1942 BRAKE LEVER Herbert ,'S. ,Jandu'af Detroit, Mich.,

Humaine-Hershey corporation, Detroit, Mich., 'i a corporation of Michigan vApplication January 20,

1940, .serial 510,314,757 i 9 lizvolaims.` (01; 74-9537) The present invention relates ,toa novel brake lever, and more particularly, to ai brake lever of th'e pawl and ratchet type which is provided with novel means for preventing clicking ofthe pawl over the ratchetas the lever 'is .moved` 4in eithery brake-setting or brake-releasing direction. This novel brak'e lever includes means for holding the pawl away from the ratchet during movement -of the lever in either. direction and for engaging the y pawl with the ratchetat any selected adjustedr position along the amplitude of brake lever` swing. c y

The brake lever of this invention also includes manually operable means forreleasing the pawl at any selected brake-setting position. It ,fur--A ther provides meanslfor positively `maintaining the pawl in this position'as the lever is swungto a full brake-releasing position, either by force exerted by the operator or by tension exerted by the braking mechanism, thereby'y eliminating drag on the brakes experienced with thelusual lever by failure of the operator to suiciently move it in a brake-releasing direction.: f f A brakelever of this type eliminates the objectionable features of clicking noises `madefby a pawl when ridingalong the ratchet teeth asl the lever is swung in a brake-.setting direction vand in the resultant wear and damage .to the teeth of the pawl and ratchet. l

Another objection frequently experienced is the prevalent practice of only partially releasing the brake lever when itis swung Yto a brake-re- A leasing position. Manyl drivers grasp the release means for rendering the pawl inoperative and rely upon the brake rod tension toV swing the the Aratchet whenlthelever is brake--V setting direction l`and, y whichallows the pawl to engage the ratchet with holding actionwhenfthe lever is swung inthe reverse direction.

Another and 4further object of, the present in-,A

vention is the provision-of meansyoperativefwith v the brake lever; in lagging relationthereto,x which automatically 4effects a disengagement `foff the pawl and ratchet when the brake lever 'is swung in a kbrake-setting directionrand which,effectsv toothed engagement therebetween when "the lever. is swung in the opposite direction; t' 'Q The present invention has foralfkurther object the provisionof means, operative with ,and inlagging relation to thebrake levenfwhich holds the pawlaway from the ratchet as. the brake leverl is swung in either oneioffits'ftwo swinging directions and 'to effect atoothed'.,en-4A gag'ement'. therebetween when the brakez lever is swung in the opposite direction. f 'j f l .This inventionV has for a' .further `object lthe vprovision of means which coacts'with the,nia'i-4 ually operated `pawl release means and the swinging brake; lever to hold the ,pawl inpositively spaced vrelation to the i ratchet l when the 'lever is swung in either direction. K- 2 'iy A further object of the present invention gis' to vprovide a brake rlever'of the' pawl and ratchet type withspaced shielding means adjacent'the' ratchetfteeth wherein the pawl'andratchet mayy cooperate in toothed engagement onlyk between said shielding means.

A Suu further object. of this invention is v'te' provide ,a'brake lever 'of ythe pawl and ratchet als lever to a brake-releasing position.` In most instancescthe pawl engages the ratchet before the lever reaches a full brake-'releasing position yal-` lowing the vehicle to be. operated with the brakes partially set or dragging, thereby causing needless brake 'wearQ` It is therefore an object of the` present invention to provide a brake lever wherein the clutchc ing members are capable of being rendered inoperative whenever 'the lever is swungV in 4either brake-setting. or brake-releasing directions.`

Another object ofthis invention is the pro-` vision of a brake lever construction of-the pawl and ratchet type in v'vliich the pawl is held in spaced relationship to the ratchet to render them inoperative iny either swinging direction ofthe lever.

A still further object of'this invention is to provide means, operative with the brake lever, which automatically holds the pawl in which:

type with spaced shieldingmeans,"adjacent thev ratchet teeth andoperable withthe brake lever, against kwhich the pawl is held during movement ofthe brake lever. Y 'Y The novel feat` 'res of this invention are set forthwith particularity in the f appended claims.V` The 7 invention itself,

however,yboth as to itsorganizationjan'd manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may bestfbe understood by reference tothe following description, taken in connection .with `the accompanying; drawings,

Figure 1Y isa view in side 'elevation of` ajlbrake lever constructed in accordance withj the prinf ciples of the present invention,-showing itin par,-` tial brake-setting position. with, thel clutching membersengaged inv toothed holding relation;

Figure Zisan enlarged fragmental viewin side elevationwith portions cut away, of; the lever vof A.away from Il the present invention showing itin a' full brake-,

believed to be charactefristicK Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental sectional Y view, with parts in elevation, taken substantially along the planes indicated by the offset lines V-V of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation, with a central portion cut away, of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the lever ina full brake-released position with the pawl held out of toothed engagement with the ratchet by means of a stirrup member, inthe same manner as shown in Figure 2; v

Figure '1 is an enlarged fragmental vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of the upper part of the brake lever illustrated in Figure 6, showingA the relative positions of parts when the pawl and ratchet are in toothed engagement;

Figure 8 is a View, similar to Figure '1, showing the relative position of parts when the pawl is held out of toothed engagement with the ratchet as the lever is swung in a brake-setting direction;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmental sectional View, with parts in elevation, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line IX-IX of Figure 6; l

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line X-X of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line XI-XI of Figure 6; and

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmental section, as taken along the plane indicated by the line XII--XII of Figure 1, illustrating the operative connection between the release member and pawl.

As shown on the drawings:

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures l to 5, inclusive, there is ineluded a mounting plate or bracket A of flat metal stamped to proper size and form and provided with apertures or bolt holes I5 whereby it may be secured in place behind the instrument board of an automotive vehicle to support the brake lever B in dependent relation therefrom.

The brake lever B has a body portion I6 of U-shape in cross-section terminating at one end in spaced legs I1 and at its other end in an enclosed tubular handle portion I8.

The spaced legs I1 are suitably apertured to a major portion of its length, is provided at its lower end with an enclosed digitally operable portion (Figure 1) and at its upper end with spaced legs 2I (Figures 2, 3 and 5).

Each of the spaced lever legs Il are suitably apertured below the pivot I9 to receive outwardly extending trunnions 22 formed in the spaced legs 2| of the release member C to constitute the pivotal connection therebetween. The lever B and the -release member C are pivotally connected together in nested relation with their webs facing inwardly.

A coil spring 23, having one end positioned by an inturned portion 24 of the lever web and its other end held by a rounded seat 25 pressed in lthe side walls ofthe release member C, normally urges the release member in a projected operative position.

A-flat pawl D, of L-shape in side View, has one leg formed to provide a tooth portion 26 for engaging ratchet teeth 21 formed onV an arcuate margin of the'plate A, the ratchet so formed and the pawl constituting clutching members for holding the lever member B in adjusted position.

The pawl D is pivoted to the side Walls of the U-shaped portion of the lever member B by means of a pivot pin 28, which pin passes through suitable elongated apertures 28 provided in the side walls of the release member C. By providing the elongated apertures 29, relative movement between the release member C and the lever B around the trunnion pivot 22 is `made possible.

As best shown in Figure 1, actuation of the pawl D into and out of toothed engagement with the ratchet 21 by means of the release member C is effected by a pair of dimples 30, only one of which is illustrated iny this Figure 1. These dimples are struck inwardly from the side walls of the release member C into abutment with each other and engage the straight edge of the downwardly extending leg ofthe pawl D, as shown in Figure 12. The pawl D is normally urged into cooperating engagement with the ratchet by means of a .coil spring 32, one end of which is positioned in a slot 33 provided in the leg 3| of the pawl member and at its other end by an inturned portion 34 struck inwardly from the web of the lever member B (Figures 2 and 3).

As best shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, a stirrup or shielding member is formed of thin ilat metal of U-shape in edge view. The stirrup E generally provides a pair of spaced parallel legs 35 which frictionally straddle the side surfaces of the bracket A and are connected at a pair of adjacent ends thereof by a pair of spaced web portions 36a and 36h. These web portions constitute teeth against which the pawl tooth 26 engages, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

At their free ends, the spaced legs 35 are suitably apertured to hang in pivotal depending relation from the pivot I9 in close straddling relation with the side surfaces of the bracket A and with the shielding webs 36a and 36h in closely spaced relation from the ratchet teeth 2'I.

Each of the spaced legs 35 are provided with lugs 31, which are struck outwardly therefrom and positioned within the trunnions 22. The width of the lugs 31 is sufliciently less than the inside diameter of the trunnions 22 to provide for lost motion therebetween so as to allow the pawl tooth 26 to bridgel the slot 38, between the stirrup webs 26a and 3617,. as the lever member agraire B is moved in either'direction and before comovement between the lever member andthe stirrup E is effected-(Figures 2 and 3).

arcuate slot 39, like' the sector edge .formed by the ratchet teeth 21, is provided in the bracket A having edges formed .by radii struck from the center of the pivot: pin I9`an'd through which passes a bolt 40, extending through lugs 4| provided in adjacent edges of the stirrup (Figures 2, 3, and 4). By properly threading thebolts by nuts 40a, suflicient tension is provided between the side surfaces of the bracket A and the stirrup E to allow for the lagging action previously explained. The coaction between bolt With `the partsk positioned as illustrated in Figure 2, when the driver of the Vehicle grasps the handle of the brake lever'and pulls it in a brake-setting direction, or to the right, the drag provided by the friction between the stirrup and bracket and the lag created by the' difference in the width of the lug members 31 andthe inside diameter of the trunnions 22, allows the lever member to swing the pawl D l:from its toothed seated relation with the web 36a to a similar seated relation with the web 36h. Tension. of the coil spring 32 urges the pawl tooth 26 against the web of the stirrup member, and,- in sliding from one web portion to its adjacent web portion, the slanting tooth face 26a. effects a camming action with the leading corner of the web 36D over which the pawl tooth slides.

The relationship of the parts is then as illustrated in Figure 3 and movement of the brake lever is continuedin a brake-setting direction until the brakes are fully set or the lever is moved to the limit of its swinging amplitude.A

When the vehicle driver releases his grip von the lever member. tensionfof the brake mechanism tends tomove the brake `lever in thereverse direction. Due to the 'lagging action between the lever member B and the stirrup member E, the pawl and lever member move toward a vbrake-releasing direction only s'ullcientlyv to allow toothed engagement between kthe pawl tooth 26 and a ratchet tooth 21 lying within'the stirrup slot 38. In this position, the lever member is positively held in its adjusted,k position (Figure l). 7 -By exerting digital pressure against the portion 201 of the release member C, disengagement or the clutching cooperation between the pawl and the sector is effected after which a slight movement of the brake lever member B in a brake-releasing direction positions the pawl tooth below the web 36a. lWhen the vehicle driver re` leases his digital grip onthe release member C,

lthe coil spring 32 again effects a seating engagement between the pawl tooth 26 and the stirrup web 36a and tension of the brake mechanism is sufficient to pull the inoperative lever construction to a full brake-released lposition, which limit is dened by the abutment between the .bolt 40 andthe endof the arcuate slot 39.

A, lt should be noted, that the spacing of theipawl and rat-het matematicas V@freelerwhen' the' lever vmember *is Lmoved in 1a brake-,setting di-y rection` and 'thel clutching cooperation therebetween is'eiected and maintained by tension of the". brake .mechanism` only.A --Actuation `of the release: member C is necessary` only to rock the pawl out of toothed engagement `into its seating relation Vwith .the 'webvportion 36a afterwhich tension oflthe F brake mechanism" automatically effects a-fullfbrake-released position of the 4,brake lever mechanism.r '1

- AnotherV embodiment of the struction-iis illustrated in- Figures 6 to `11, in-v elusive. The formbf lever herein illustrated is generally designated by` the referencev character F, having.' a'. body of U-shaped cross-'section 50 with a vcurved enclosed handle y5| at oneend thereof'and spaced parallel" legs' 52 at its other The spaced legs l52 Vhave their inner adjacent edges 53 turnedv outwardly-and the flat portions ofthe legs are suitably apertured to receive a pivot pin 54, such as a bolt,rivet orthe like, for pivotally securing the lever shaft yto a support 'bracket-.GLI Suitable apertures or bolt holes 55 arei provided in fthebracket G whereby it may beA 'secured vin place behind the instrument board Y of an` automotive vehicle to support the brake 4 lever F in dependentrelation with its handle below the lowermargin of the instrument board; A llat pawl 'H is formed with aftooth 56 for engaging ratchet `teeth 51 formed'on an arcuate margin Aof the bracket G by a radius struckfrom thelpivot 54, the ratchet so formed ands the pawl constituting clutc-hingmembers for holding` the levermember F in adjusted` position.

A release member iJ, -formed of flat metal and stamped to a Ushaped configuration in cross section for a majorfportion of its length, is provided at its lower end with a closed'digitally operable'portion '58 (Figure 6) and at its upper end with vspaced ThefpaWlH `and therelease member J are lease member J (Figure v6), normally urges the v release member Vto a projected operative position. Operativeconn'ection between the release mem- 'ber y.I` and the` pawl lH is` electedby theprovisiono'f alug 64, formed on the pawl below the toothed portion 56, which extends throughan opening provided in the web of the release meme: ber (Figuresf7, 8, and 11). By this connection thepawl is rocked into and out o-f cooperative pivot 54,fon which the depending members-arel held together by lock nuts 54a and 54h. The connectingweb portions l68a and 686,1whichibrm brake lever cone the U-shaped ends of the stirrup are arranged in movable and spaced relation from the ratchet teeth 51. As best illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, these web portions constitute seats against which the tooth portion 56 of the pawl H engages to hold the pawl out of cooperating engagement with the ratchet teeth,

y An arcuate slot BS, having edges formed by radii struck from the center of the pivot pin 54, is provided in the bracket G intermediate the ratchet teeth 51 and the pivotal connection 54.

A similar but much shorter elongated slot, in registry with the slot 69, is provided in each of the lever legs 52. `As best shown in Figure 9, the lever leg slot 10a is slightly shorterin length than the slot 10bI in the opposite leg to provide for the difference in diameters between the head 1| of the bolt 12, which extends through the aforementioned slot, and the lock washer 13 against which the nut 14 is threaded. l

The straddling relation between the side surfaces and the bracket G and the legs 61 of the stirrup K, affords a sliding frictional engagement therebetween. Y

When, the driver of the vehicle grasps the handle of the brake lever and pulls it in a brakesetting direction, the frictional `engagement between the stirrup and the bracket results in the stirrup member holding its position until the free ends of the slots 10a and 10b coact with the bolts 12 to effect co-movement between the stirrup and the lever F. The difference in relative lengths of the lever leg slots 10a and 10b and the respective included portions of the bolt 12, provides surficient` lost motion to allow the pawl tooth 56 to be displaced from. the web portion 68a to the web portion 68h, In other words, the los-t motion before co-movement is effected between the brake lever F and the stirrup K is suicient to allow the pawl tooth to bridge the slot 15 which separates the adjacent webs 68a andl 68h. `The slanting edge 16 of the` pawl tooth 56 allows the pawl to slide from one stirrupwebto its adjacent web portion in the same manner as described in the previous embodiment. Continued pull on the handle of the brake lever actuates the brakes. to the desired adjusted Vposition. Upon release of the grip by the driver, tension of the brake mechanism tends to move the brake lever in a counter direction whereby the lost motion allows the pawl tooth to slide from the stirrup web 68h into toothed engagement with a ratchet tooth 51 lying within the slot 15.

To release the brake lever mechanism from its holding adjusted position, the driver of the vehicle'merely actuates the digital portion 58 of the release member J to rock the pawl out of toothed engagement with its cooperating ratchet and tension of the brake mechanismpulls the lever forward through the remainder of the lost motion to seat the pawl tooth againstthe web portion 68a, after which the brake mechanism tension moves the entire brake lever construction to a fully brake-released position as shown in Figure 6.

While in this embodiment, the pawl and release members are illustrated as being separate parts, they may be made integral to perform their individual functions equally as well. It should be notedwthat the functions and the results obtained in each of the embodiments. are

alike. i l,

The invention is described herein more or'less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and the proportions of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

. I claim as my invention:

1. A lever construction comprising a lever arranged for pivotal connection to a support, cooperating clutching members for holding said lever in adjusted position, means manually operable for rendering said clutching cooperation inoperative, and additional means coaxially pivoted with said lever to said support for partially shielding one of said clutching members to hold the other of said members out of cooperation therewith when the lever is swung in one direction and to allow said clutching members to cooperate when swung in the opposite direction.

2. A brake lever construction comprising a lever having a handle at one end and spaced legs at the other end for pivotal connection to a support, cooperating clutching members for holding said lever in adjusted position, a clutch release member for unclutching said cooperating members, a U-shaped member straddling said support, friction means between said U-shaped member and said support for creating a drag therebetween, said U-shaped member being arranged for movement with, said lever in lagging relation thereto by reason of said drag, and teeth formed on said U-shaped member for carrying one of said clutching members `out of clutching cooperationwhen said lever is moved in either direction. 4

3. A ratchet, a lever pivoted to said ratchet, a pawl adapted tovcooperatewith said ratchet for holding said lever in adjusted position, a release member for unclutching said pawl and ratchet, and a stirrup having sidewalls straddling said ratchet and being pivotally connected thereto coaxially with said lever, said stirrup having a slot in a web portion connecting said side walls and positioned adjacent the teeth of said ratchet, said pawl and ratchet cooperating with holding action only when said pawl extends through said web slot, one of the webportions adjacent said slot automatically holding the pawl out of clutching cooperation with said ratchet when said lever is moved in one direction and the other web portion adjacent said slotA holding the pawl out of clutching cooperation with said ratchet when said pawl is rocked -out' of said cooperation by said release member when the lever is moved in the opposite direction. y

4. A brake lever construction comprising a lever having a handle at one end and spaced legs at its other end pivotally connected ,to a support, a ratchet sector on said support, a pawl adapted to cooperate with said sector to hold said lever in adjusted position, a clutch release vmember operable for rocking said pawl out of holdingl engagement with said sector, a U-shaped stirrup having spaced side walls and ar connectingweb portion at one end thereof, the freeends of saidside walls arranged to pivot coaxially with said lever pivot, said webbed portion having a transverse slot dening flat seats on either side thereof, said pawl and ratchet co-operating with holding action only through said web slot, 4said stirrup. and lever coacting with lagging action whereby saidY pawl is rocked out of clutching cooperation into seating engagement against one of said flat seats wheny saidy lever is swungin` one direction and rocked back into clutching cooplever in adjusted position, a clutch release member operable for rocking said pawl Aout of holding engagement with said sector, a U-shaped stirrup having spaced side walls and a connecting web portion at one end thereof, said stirrup straddling said sector with its web portion adjacent the sector teeth and arranged to pivot co- 'axially with said lever pivot, said web portion having-a slot dening adjacent nat seats, said clutching cooperation being 'eiected through said slot only, and struck out portions of said side walls engaging said lever with lost motion to effect a lagging co-movement between said stirrup and lever when the latter is moved in either direction, said lagging action being effective to rock said pawl along one of said flat seats into and out of clutching cooperation with said sector by movement of the lever, said pawl being rocked out of clutching cooperation by said release member and maintained in seated relation against the other of said fiat seats when the lever is moved in onedirection only.

6. A brake lever construction comprising a support, a lever having a handle at one end and spaced legs at its other end, said spaced legsv straddling said support and pivotally connected thereto, a ratchet sector on said support, a pawl adapted to cooperate with said sector to hold the lever in adjusted position, a clutch release memi8. A clutchingconstructicn comprisingaplurality ofy clutching "members normally cooperatingin holding engagement, a shielding member pivotally y connected to one of said clutching members, a 'movable member co-pivotally mounted with said shielding member, means pivotally connecting another ofsaidlA clutching members to saidmov'able member; and-means connecting' said movable member tosaid shielding member for limited relative movement and for co-movement therebetween, said other vclutching member being rocked by said movable lmember toa. position in which said shielding member is intery posed between said one and said other clutching.

ber having an opening through which extends al i portion of the pawl whereby the pawl is rocked out of holding engagement with said sector, a U-shaped stirrup having spaced side walls and spaced connecting web portions at one end, said side walls arranged to frictionally -straddle the side surfaces of said support and to hang in pivotal depending relation from said lever pivot, said spaced lever legs and support having elongated slots in registry, a bolt passing through said slots and coacting with the ends of the support slot to define the swinging amplitude of said lever, said elongated slots in the spaced lever legs coacting with said bolt and additionalapertures in said stirrup to allow for relative movement between said lever and stirrup for a portion of the swing of said lever and to allow co-movement therebetween for the balance of said lever swing in either direction, the angularity of said relative movement being such as to allow for displacement of the pawl from one web portion of the stirrup to its adjacent web portion, said pawlA and ratchet cooperating with holding action only when the pawl extends between said spaced web portions of said stirrup. c Y

'1. A clutching construction comprising a plurality of clutching members normally cooperating in holding engagement, a shielding member arranged for movement'along one of said clutching members, and movable means connecting said shielding member and -another of said clutching members for limited relative movement and for oo-movement, said other clutching member being rocked by said movable means to a position in which said shielding member is interposed between said one and said other clutching members during said limited relative movement and being maintained therebetween during said co-movement.

-9. A clutching construction comprising a sup-l port member, a movable member pivotally mounted thereon, said membershaving clutching parts normally cooperating in holding engagement, a shielding member pivotally mounted on said support member for movement about the same axis as said movable member and having a portion thereof masking a portion of one of isaid clutching parts, and means connecting said shielding member and said movable member for relative movementabout their common pivot axis between a position where said shielding member is interposed between said clutching parts and a position where said clutchparts are in holding engagement with each other.

l0. A clutching construction including a plurality of relatively movable clutching members normally cooperating in holding engagement, a shielding member having av portion` extending transversely across one of said clutching members, movable means connected to said shielding member for movement of the portion of said shielding member along said one clutching member, and a connectionbetween said movable means and another of said clutching members for rocking the latter to a position in which said shielding member portion is interposed between said oneand said other clutching members and to a position where said last clutching members are in holding engagement with each other.

11. A clutching construction comprising a plurality of clutching members normally cooperating in holding engagement, a shieldingmember arranged for movement along one of said clutching members, a movable member carrying another of said clutching members, and a lost motion device connecting said movable member and said shielding member for limited relative movement and for co-movement therebetween, said other clutching member being rocked by said movable member to a position in which said shielding member is interposed between said one and said other clutching members during said limited relative movement and being maintained therebetween during said co-movement.

12. A brake lever construction comprising a shank on'rsaid connecting member extending through --said shielding member sidewalls and said slot in the support member, said connecting member having adjustable means at its other end tightly engaging the sidewall of said shielding member` opposite the side wall engaged by said enlargedA ends and being seated within the other of said slots in the lever legs, said elongated slots coacting with said connecting member to effect limited relative movement between said lever and said shielding member for a portion of the swing of said lever and to effect co- 5 movement therebetween for the balance of said lever swing.

HERBERT S. JANDUS. 

